Formula One driver Oscar Piastri, who has won nine races in the World Championship, was awarded the 'Don', Australia's highest sporting honour, calling it 'a great privilege'. The 24-year-old entered the elite club this season and is aiming to become the third Australian to win the World Championship after Jack Brabham and Alan Jones. Piastri faces fierce competition, as he lost the lead at the Mexican Grand Prix last month and now trails his McLaren teammate, British driver Lando Norris, by 24 points with three races remaining. On Thursday evening, Piastri was honoured in his hometown of Melbourne at the Australian Sport Hall of Fame awards ceremony, which honours the athlete or team that has inspired the nation the most over the past 12 months. The 'Don' award is named after Australian cricket legend Donald Bradman. Piastri said, 'Winning an award named after Sir Donald Bradman is a great privilege.' He added, 'Everyone in Australia knows exactly what Bradman represents and the legacy he left in Australian sport, so I'm very aware of the significance of this award.' He continued, 'It's always fantastic to represent our country on the world stage and get good results for ourselves.' Among previous winners of the award are Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman, Adam Scott, Ashleigh Barty, and the Australian women's football team. The other 'Don' award, named after legendary swimmer Dawn Fraser and recognising individuals, teams, or institutions that have changed sport for the better, was won by seven-time world surfing champion Layne Beachley. Beachley claimed her first world title at 26 before dominating the sport between 1998 and 2003, winning six consecutive titles—an unprecedented achievement in surfing. Beachley said, 'When I joined the professional tour in 1990, I was shocked by the state of women's surfing, and I decided to change its direction.' She added, 'Through concessions, sacrifices, and battles, we achieved pay equality in 2018. Now women can truly aspire to be seen and respected in an environment that was once a male domain.'
