Former F1 driver reveals thirst for business
FORMER Formula 1 driver Mark Webber has detailed his next move, launching a new business he believes can change the lives of athletes and everyday people.
The man who won nine Formula 1 Grands Prix throughout a successful racing career is a co-creator of Dr Hydrate, a hydration product formed in conjunction with five-time Coolangatta Gold champion Caine Eckstein.
Since stepping out from behind the wheel in 2017 Webber has worked as a television commentator, corporate speaker and is the manager of
Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri. Webber has also been quietly building a business portfolio, investing in a select few products offered between an avalanche of pitches.
Dr Hydrate is the newest of a group of interests surrounding health and wellness that Webber has dabbled in.
The 46-year-old said he chose to back Dr Hydrate because it was the elite drink in a market packed with “sub-optimal” offerings.
“We get a lot of requests (to invest in products),” Webber said.
“I’m with some big brands which I’m excited by and who I have had long-term relationships with. With Dr Hydrate, I know as a professional athlete that hydrations is key and crucial to your performance.
“The choices out there for people are sub-optimal to say the least. There are a lot of interesting choices. We thought there was a gap in the market where we could give people a really healthy choice with cracking minerals.
“We did our homework for over a year, trialling and testing it. It is something for everyone, whether you are a kid or in mining or sport.
“The health benefits are big in my mind in terms of why people should be attracted to this product.”
Ambassador and Gold Coast-based beach sprinter Olivia May said she had enjoyed her best season of racing since moving from Melbourne to Queensland in order to train at Kurrawa Surf Club while using Dr Hydrate.
“I’m in the sun all the time training. In the past I have avoided hydration products because of the sugar content but this has made a massive difference in my performance,” she said as she prepares for the Australian Surf Life Saving titles in March.
Eckstein said the response to the drink’s launch in January had been massive, with orders coming from across Australia.