Sydney: Formula One sensation Oscar Piastri has been crowned with Australia’s most prestigious sporting accolade, the Don Award, after a breakout year that has reignited national excitement for motorsport.
The 24-year-old Melbourne native has risen rapidly through the elite ranks of Formula One, emerging as a genuine world championship contender and aiming to become only the third Australian F1 world champion, following legends Jack Brabham and Alan Jones.
Piastri enters the final stretch of the season trailing McLaren teammate Lando Norris by 24 points after surrendering the championship lead at the Mexico City Grand Prix. With just three races remaining, the title fight remains wide open.
The Don Award—presented annually by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame—recognises the athlete or team whose performance and influence most inspired the nation over the past year. This year’s ceremony was held in Piastri’s hometown of Melbourne.
Receiving the honour, Piastri said it was “a massive privilege” to earn an award named after cricketing icon Sir Donald Bradman.
“Everyone in Australia knows what Sir Don represented and the legacy he left in our sporting culture,” Piastri said. “It’s not lost on me how significant this award is. Representing Australia on the world stage and making our fans proud is an incredible feeling.”
He also thanked fans around the world who “wave the flag and cheer” at every Grand Prix.
Past recipients of the Don Award include many of Australia’s sporting greats, such as Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman, Adam Scott, Ashleigh Barty, and more recently, the Matildas.
Meanwhile, seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley received the Dawn Award, which honours those who have transformed sport for the better. Beachley dominated women’s surfing between 1998 and 2003, winning an unprecedented six consecutive world titles.
Reflecting on her journey, Beachley said she was “shocked” by the inequality in women’s surfing when she joined the tour in 1990, and dedicated herself to reshaping the sport.
“Through sacrifices and battles, we achieved pay equity in 2018,” she said. “Now women can truly aspire to be respected in what was once a male-dominated environment.”
