Carlos Sainz is fueled by gratitude.

The Williams Racing driver, 31, gave a heartfelt shout-out to the special women in his life when speaking with PEOPLE exclusively as a L’Oréal Paris ambassador ahead of the Lights on Women’s Worth dinner at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

“I have two sisters and a mom that have always taken great care of me,” he tells PEOPLE exclusively ahead of the ceremony hosted by L’Oréal Paris on May 22, which honors emerging female directors from the short film/student film category.

“I admire them greatly,” continues Sainz of his mom, Reyes Vázquez de Castro, and sisters, Ana and Blanca, adding, “Especially now that they’ve given me three beautiful nephews that I have to now take care of — and when I go back to Madrid, I enjoy my time with them.”

Reflecting on the influence the women in his life have had on him, Sainz — who makes his return to the Cannes Film Festival, where L’Oréal Paris serves as the official makeup partner for the 29th year — said supporting women is ultimately about respect and opportunity.

“Respecting them, but also giving them the opportunity to shine and be successful in whatever discipline or thing they want to do in their lives,” he shares. “I’m lucky to have also a big platform on Instagram — and every time I can, I try to promote the women and help them to be successful.”

With a busy Formula 1 schedule that has the star driver traveling around the globe from the season’s start at the Australian Grand Prix in March to the final race at Abu Dhabi in December, Sainz — who’s fresh off his finish at the Miami Grand Prix in May — turns to L’Oréal Paris for confidence.

“The main one that I use on my day-to-day, daily routine is the L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic,” he says. “That’s the moisturizer that I would put on after a shower pretty much every day of my life. It just requires 20, 30 seconds of your time, you invest in it and you feel fresh after it.”

“If I’m going to be exposed in the sun… then I will use the SPF 50 to protect myself,” he continues. “And with those two, more or less, I go about my day. Then I have other, maybe a bit more specific ones that I will use depending on the day, but that’s more my daily routine.”

Other popular go-to hair and skin items include the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Age Defying Serum, which is a 3-in-1 product that targets wrinkles, firmness and brightness for younger-looking skin. Also, the L’Oréal Paris Hyaluron + Pure Haircare System to purify and hydrate the scalp.

L’Oréal Paris is once again bringing the cinematic energy of the Cannes Film Festival to life. From May 12 to May 23, the iconic brand joins in celebrating the artistry, elegance and empowerment that define beauty, both on and off the red carpet.

“It’s an honor to be a L’Oréal Paris ambassador,” Sainz tells PEOPLE. “There are so many other ambassadors that I’ve always seen on TV. I’ve always admired that when I come to Cannes, I get to meet and I get to hang out with.”

“That is quite a bit of an unreal experience,” he continues. “It’s my second year now getting used to it. I think it’s going to become tradition for me now to come back here. It’s definitely a day that I look forward to.”