“We want every young person, regardless of where they’re coming from, to have the chance to develop their talents.”

SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JUNE 28: Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team on the podium with his trophy and Champagne during the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 28, 2026 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The organisation works with teenagers by matching them with young working professionals who volunteer through the organisation to provide guidance and encouragement during their teenage years. The concept sounds simple, but the company's impact is changing lives every day. Through long-term one-to-one mentoring relationships, the charity helps teenagers discover opportunities they may never have considered possible. "We want every young person, regardless of where they're coming from, to have the chance to develop their talents," Sindbad co-head Julia Unterberger told BuzzFeed UK.

One success story comes from a young man who grew up in a drug-filled environment, and, determined not to end up like his surroundings, turned to Sinbad. Through mentoring, he began to imagine a different future for himself and is now thriving in his first job. "With the help of his mentor, he got a turning point," Unterberger explained.

The programme also creates something increasingly rare in modern life: genuine connections between people from completely different social and cultural backgrounds. As concerns around loneliness and social isolation continue to grow in today's society, Sindbad believes these relationships are more important than ever. "People are somehow forced to spend time with someone who wouldn't normally be in their social bubble," said Sarah Schalk from Sindbad's leadership team. "Then they discover new perspectives they didn't have before."

The visibility that comes with being recognised on Formula 1's global stage could help connect the organisation with future mentees, mentors, and supporters who may never have heard of its work before. And while Formula 1 is often associated with cutting-edge technology, billion-pound teams and, elite competition, Sindbad hopes people take away a much simpler message that being a mentor doesn't require changing someone's life overnight. "It's way easier than people think," Schalk said. "It's not like being a mentor from Star Wars. It's tiny little steps – following up, asking questions, being interested, and building relationships."