Overview
- Seven wins in the first 15 Grands Prix and an active title bid — 24 points behind Lando Norris with three races remaining — underpinned Piastri’s selection, which chair Bruce McAvaney described as the year’s most compelling story in Australian sport.
- Piastri is the first Formula 1 driver to receive The Don since the award was introduced in 1998.
- Preparing for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Piastri did not attend the Melbourne ceremony, with his parents accepting the honour on his behalf.
- Beachley was recognised for transforming women’s surfing, including progress on pay equity and stronger athlete pathways.
- SAHOF also elevated Andrew Gaze and Belinda Clark to Legend status and inducted Torah Bright, Jason Dunstall, Laura Geitz, Peter Harcourt, Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Schwarzer and Cameron Smith.