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 <img alt="Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/V6TMy1QPjElnEGazqwSyE-MSz3I=/0x0:4877x3251/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74077494/usa_today_26066314.0.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption>
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 The SEC got 14 bids into the 2025 NCAA softball tournament and has seven of the top eight seeds. The road to Oklahoma City for 64 teams begins this Friday with the 2025 NCAA softball tournament set to get underway. The bracket for this year’s field was unveiled Sunday night and a few things about this year’s tournament are clear.
For starters, the SEC is far and away the best conference in this sport as 14 of the league’s 16 teams made the field.
Perhaps more importantly and impressively, seven of the top eight seeds in the tournament went to teams in the SEC, with the lone outlier being No. 5 <a href="https://www.tomahawknation.com/">Florida State</a>. The Seminoles were one of nine ACC teams to make the field, but just one of three that will host opening weekend games, joining No. 14 Duke and No. 11 Clemson.
That means that should the regional round go chalk, seven of the eight Super Regional sites will be played on SEC campuses, which could lead to an SEC-heavy College <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>.
<a href="https://www.goodbullhunting.com">Texas A&amp;M</a> was granted the No. 1 overall seed despite never playing against No. 2 seed — and four-time reigning national champs — Oklahoma this season. Softball fans were robbed of what would’ve been a matchup between the Sooners and the Aggies this past weekend in Athens, Ga. as the SEC Championship game was rained out. Texas A&amp;M does have a strong case for the No. 1 seed though, as they have 19 top 25 wins, which is the most in the country. The Aggies also notched victories over strong non-conference foes like Florida State and Texas Tech.
South Carolina grabbed the final top-eight seed, securing Super Regional hosting rights should the Gamecocks advance that far. South Carolina is having an incredibly memorable season under first-year coach Ashley Chastain Woodard and won 40 games despite being picked to finish last in the SEC this season. It’ll be the first time since 2018 that the Gamecocks are hosting a regional, which was also the last time they advanced to a Super Regional.
“When you look at South Carolina, they have 17 top 25 wins and that was key in that area,” NCAA softball committee chair Kurt McGuffin told ESPN. “They went and challenged themselves all year. Six of those top 25 wins were out of conference, so we like to see teams where the nonconference and conference schedule is really challenging.”
<div id="Kt5WAm">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
The bracket has been revealed! NCAA Softball Committee Chair, Kurt McGuffin, discusses the committee's decisions.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RoadToWCWS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RoadToWCWS</a> x ESPN2 <a href="https://t.co/VGm7itB4Xk">pic.twitter.com/VGm7itB4Xk</a>— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NCAASoftball/status/1921714630797222352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Should the Gamecocks get to the second weekend of the tournament, they could face a UCLA team with something to prove. The Bruins were handed the No. 9 seed after a 49-10 season, and this postseason marks the first time since 2016 that UCLA hasn’t been a top-eight seed. The Bruins are a powerhouse in college softball, with eight World Series bids since 2015.
Alabama was the final SEC team to grab a national seed, getting slotted 15th to host an opening-weekend regional. It’s the 20th consecutive season the Crimson Tide have gotten a top-16 seed in the tournament. They have a challenging regional pod though that includes a pair of 40-win teams in <a href="https://www.gobblercountry.com/">Virginia Tech</a> and Belmont. The Hokies and Tide met in February, splitting two games in Tuscaloosa.
Meanwhile, Belmont is armed with one of the top pitchers in the country in Maya Johnson, who leads the nation in strikeouts with 343. Belmont faces Virginia Tech at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPN+.
Other intriguing regional matchups include one between North Carolina and <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com">Ohio State</a> in Knoxville, Tennessee. In the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, the Tar Heels are led by the nation’s <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2025/5/1/24421230/kat-rodriguez-softball-unc-tar-heels-ncaa-lyons-acc">leader in RBIs in Kat Rodriguez</a>, while the Buckeyes have arguably the most explosive offense in the country as they lead the sport in home runs with 137.
UNC and Ohio State will meet at 4 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPNU. The winner between the Tar Heels and the Buckeyes is likely to face Tennessee and SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens, who is second nationally in ERA with a 0.92 mark.

** The SEC's overwhelming representation underscores its dominance in NCAA softball, setting the stage for a highly competitive tournament and reinforcing the conference's reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate athletics. This could also influence recruiting and future conference dynamics in the sport.

Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
    

  
The SEC got 14 bids into the 2025 NCAA softball tournament and has seven of the top eight seeds.
 The road to Oklahoma City for 64 teams begins this Friday with the 2025 NCAA softball tournament set to get underway. The bracket for this year’s field was unveiled Sunday night and a few things about this year’s tournament are clear.
For starters, the SEC is far and away the best conference in this sport as 14 of the league’s 16 teams made the field.
Perhaps more importantly and impressively, seven of the top eight seeds in the tournament went to teams in the SEC, with the lone outlier being No. 5 Florida State. The Seminoles were one of nine ACC teams to make the field, but just one of three that will host opening weekend games, joining No. 14 Duke and No. 11 Clemson.
That means that should the regional round go chalk, seven of the eight Super Regional sites will be played on SEC campuses, which could lead to an SEC-heavy College World Series.
Texas A&M was granted the No. 1 overall seed despite never playing against No. 2 seed — and four-time reigning national champs — Oklahoma this season. Softball fans were robbed of what would’ve been a matchup between the Sooners and the Aggies this past weekend in Athens, Ga. as the SEC Championship game was rained out. Texas A&M does have a strong case for the No. 1 seed though, as they have 19 top 25 wins, which is the most in the country. The Aggies also notched victories over strong non-conference foes like Florida State and Texas Tech.
South Carolina grabbed the final top-eight seed, securing Super Regional hosting rights should the Gamecocks advance that far. South Carolina is having an incredibly memorable season under first-year coach Ashley Chastain Woodard and won 40 games despite being picked to finish last in the SEC this season. It’ll be the first time since 2018 that the Gamecocks are hosting a regional, which was also the last time they advanced to a Super Regional.
“When you look at South Carolina, they have 17 top 25 wins and that was key in that area,” NCAA softball committee chair Kurt McGuffin told ESPN. “They went and challenged themselves all year. Six of those top 25 wins were out of conference, so we like to see teams where the nonconference and conference schedule is really challenging.”
The bracket has been revealed!  
NCAA Softball Committee Chair, Kurt McGuffin, discusses the committee's decisions.#RoadToWCWS x   ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/VGm7itB4Xk
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 11, 2025




Should the Gamecocks get to the second weekend of the tournament, they could face a UCLA team with something to prove. The Bruins were handed the No. 9 seed after a 49-10 season, and this postseason marks the first time since 2016 that UCLA hasn’t been a top-eight seed. The Bruins are a powerhouse in college softball, with eight World Series bids since 2015.
Alabama was the final SEC team to grab a national seed, getting slotted 15th to host an opening-weekend regional. It’s the 20th consecutive season the Crimson Tide have gotten a top-16 seed in the tournament. They have a challenging regional pod though that includes a pair of 40-win teams in Virginia Tech and Belmont. The Hokies and Tide met in February, splitting two games in Tuscaloosa.
Meanwhile, Belmont is armed with one of the top pitchers in the country in Maya Johnson, who leads the nation in strikeouts with 343. Belmont faces Virginia Tech at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPN+.
Other intriguing regional matchups include one between North Carolina and Ohio State in Knoxville, Tennessee. In the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, the Tar Heels are led by the nation’s leader in RBIs in Kat Rodriguez, while the Buckeyes have arguably the most explosive offense in the country as they lead the sport in home runs with 137.
UNC and Ohio State will meet at 4 p.m. ET on Friday on ESPNU. The winner between the Tar Heels and the Buckeyes is likely to face Tennessee and SEC Pitcher of the Year Karlyn Pickens, who is second nationally in ERA with a 0.92 mark.

** The SEC dominates the 2025 NCAA softball tournament, securing 14 bids and seven of the top eight seeds, highlighting its strength in the sport as the tournament begins this Friday.  

Takeaways from NCAA softball tournament bracket reveal: One conference dominates

<img width="832" height="468" src="https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-1024x576.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-300x169.jpg 300w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-768x432.jpg 768w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/Screen-Shot-2025-05-12-at-10.46.37-AM-scaled-e1747061256698.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px" />After a full year of him insisting it can’t fire him, TNT finally figured out how to silence Charles Barkley, for a moment. It’s been 12 months of Barkley ranting about TNT’s bosses at Warner Bros. Discovery after they were unsuccessful in their attempts at retaining NBA game rights beyond this season. And every time <a class="more-link" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/tnt-charles-barkley-hook-hate.html">Read more...</a>
The post <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/tnt-charles-barkley-hook-hate.html">TNT forced to play Charles Barkley off the set</a> appeared first on <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com">Awful Announcing</a>.

This highlights tensions between high-profile sports commentators and networks amid major broadcasting rights shifts, reflecting broader instability in sports media as leagues and networks renegotiate deals.

After a full year of him insisting it can’t fire him, TNT finally figured out how to silence Charles Barkley, for a moment. It’s been 12 months of Barkley ranting about TNT’s bosses at Warner Bros. Discovery after they were unsuccessful in their attempts at retaining NBA game rights beyond this season. And every time Read more...
The post TNT forced to play Charles Barkley off the set appeared first on Awful Announcing.

TNT temporarily silenced Charles Barkley after a year of his public rants about Warner Bros. Discovery's failure to retain NBA rights, despite his claims they couldn't fire him.  

TNT forced to play Charles Barkley off the set

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 <figcaption>Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption>
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 The Hall of Famer will be working with the NBA on NBC in their coverage. The NBA on NBC will forever be associated with Michael Jordan. Jordan’s Chicago Bulls dominated the ‘90s when NBC had the league’s broadcasting rights. With NBC getting its NBA coverage back next season, they pulled off the trick of getting Jordan back as well. 
It was announced on Monday that Jordan will be working with the NBA on NBC when they return in October, as a special contributor to the brand.
<div id="mlB6ts">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
A legendary addition to our team! We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Jordan as a special contributor to the NBA on NBC and Peacock. <a href="https://t.co/Pjsq8tokfi">pic.twitter.com/Pjsq8tokfi</a>— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAonNBC/status/1921944482917806384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

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Jordan hasn’t regularly appeared on any NBA television since he retired in 2003, but his insight into the game could be the most valuable addition that the brand makes as they start their coverage. It’s worth noting that NBC has not given any details about what “special contributor” means, but there are a few different possibilities here:
<ul>
<li id="kNPOpI">Michael Jordan daily gambling segment, where he tells you what parlays to go for because he’s betting on the same things you are.</li>
<li id="XlSQSc">Jordan as an analyst, smoking a cigar and calling Kyle Kuzma everything but his name in the span of five minutes.</li>
<li id="H9bHZK">A Manningcast style of watching basketball, with Jordan serving to guide fans through how players see the game as it unfolds</li>
</ul>
Jordan’s Hall of Fame speech was the last time we really saw him air out his grievances into a live microphone. The speech cemented Jordan’s reputation as the king of pettiness. That could make for some fantastic TV.
<div id="1D9Akc"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XLzBMGXfK4c?rel=0" style="top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="accelerometer; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;"></iframe></div></div>
Regardless of what it is, we might see a new, more diabolical level of hate with Jordan at the helm. He could spend hours talking about how this new generation sucks and that they don’t deserve to be on the court he played on, and you know what? I’d be here for it.

Jordan's return to NBC adds star power and nostalgia to the network's NBA coverage, potentially boosting viewership and reconnecting fans with the era when he dominated the league. This move highlights the importance of legacy figures in sports media and could influence how networks leverage past stars to enhance modern broadcasts.

Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
    

  
The Hall of Famer will be working with the NBA on NBC in their coverage.
 The NBA on NBC will forever be associated with Michael Jordan. Jordan’s Chicago Bulls dominated the ‘90s when NBC had the league’s broadcasting rights. With NBC getting its NBA coverage back next season, they pulled off the trick of getting Jordan back as well. 
It was announced on Monday that Jordan will be working with the NBA on NBC when they return in October, as a special contributor to the brand.
A legendary addition to our team!
We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Jordan as a special contributor to the NBA on NBC and Peacock. pic.twitter.com/Pjsq8tokfi
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 12, 2025




Jordan hasn’t regularly appeared on any NBA television since he retired in 2003, but his insight into the game could be the most valuable addition that the brand makes as they start their coverage. It’s worth noting that NBC has not given any details about what “special contributor” means, but there are a few different possibilities here:
Michael Jordan daily gambling segment, where he tells you what parlays to go for because he’s betting on the same things you are.
Jordan as an analyst, smoking a cigar and calling Kyle Kuzma everything but his name in the span of five minutes.
A Manningcast style of watching basketball, with Jordan serving to guide fans through how players see the game as it unfolds
Jordan’s Hall of Fame speech was the last time we really saw him air out his grievances into a live microphone. The speech cemented Jordan’s reputation as the king of pettiness. That could make for some fantastic TV.


Regardless of what it is, we might see a new, more diabolical level of hate with Jordan at the helm. He could spend hours talking about how this new generation sucks and that they don’t deserve to be on the court he played on, and you know what? I’d be here for it.

Michael Jordan is set to join NBC's NBA coverage when the network resumes broadcasting games next season, rekindling the iconic association between Jordan and NBC from the 1990s.  

Michael Jordan is joining NBC, so we are about to get some elite hating

<img width="832" height="457" src="https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/USATSI_24175636_168384754_lowres-scaled-e1747061230739-1024x563.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="Sep 6, 2024; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Peacock sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung (center) interviews Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) and running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the 2024 NFL Sao Paolo Game at Neo Quimica Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images" decoding="async" srcset="https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/USATSI_24175636_168384754_lowres-scaled-e1747061230739-1024x563.jpg 1024w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/USATSI_24175636_168384754_lowres-scaled-e1747061230739-300x165.jpg 300w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/USATSI_24175636_168384754_lowres-scaled-e1747061230739-768x422.jpg 768w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/USATSI_24175636_168384754_lowres-scaled-e1747061230739-1536x845.jpg 1536w, https://awfulannouncing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2025/05/USATSI_24175636_168384754_lowres-scaled-e1747061230739-2048x1126.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px" />Another big NFL game will be a streaming exclusive. NBCUniversal and the league announced Monday ahead of NBC&#8217;s upfronts that its Peacock streaming service will exclusively broadcast a Week 17 game in primetime on Saturday, Dec. 27, with the specific matchup there &#8220;selected from a pool of key NFL Week 17 Saturday matchups&#8221; closer to <a class="more-link" href="https://awfulannouncing.com/peacock/exclusive-week-17-nfl-game-primetime.html">Read more...</a>
The post <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/peacock/exclusive-week-17-nfl-game-primetime.html">Peacock announces exclusive Week 17 NFL primetime game</a> appeared first on <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com">Awful Announcing</a>.

This move reflects the growing trend of major sports leagues partnering with streaming platforms for exclusive broadcasts, shifting away from traditional TV and potentially limiting access for viewers without subscriptions. It highlights the evolving media landscape and the increasing competition among streaming services for live sports rights.

Another big NFL game will be a streaming exclusive. NBCUniversal and the league announced Monday ahead of NBC’s upfronts that its Peacock streaming service will exclusively broadcast a Week 17 game in primetime on Saturday, Dec. 27, with the specific matchup there “selected from a pool of key NFL Week 17 Saturday matchups” closer to Read more...
The post Peacock announces exclusive Week 17 NFL primetime game appeared first on Awful Announcing.

NBCUniversal and the NFL announced that Peacock will exclusively stream a Week 17 primetime game on December 27, with the matchup to be determined later.  

Peacock announces exclusive Week 17 NFL primetime game

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 <img alt="Truist Championship 2025 - Final Round" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9HssHfx8kZa6acWOLL_qltddK6U=/0x0:5372x3581/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74078445/2214588841.0.jpg" />
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 Sepp Straka and Rory McIlroy are on a certain list by themselves. The world of golf has all of its eyes and attention on Quail Hollow this week with the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/pga-championship">PGA Championship</a> set to kick off. One thing we are not lacking is storylines.
Consider that Scottie Scheffler is still looking for his first non-Masters major win and that he won for the first time this season last week at the CJ CUP. Or how about the fact that Xander Schauffele is actually the defending champion of this event, and that he is also the reigning Open Champion of the year. What about the last person to win a PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Justin Thomas? Do you recall that JT’s buddy Jordan Spieth still needs this major for a career grand slam? Need I remind you that relative to this year’s Masters that Rory McIlroy won it to give himself the career grand slam? 
As noted there is a lot going on. McIlroy will be a huge focus what with his own history of success at Quail Hollow specifically and with the form that he is in. McIlroy did indeed win at Augusta this year and also emerged victorious at The Players and as well as Pebble Beach.
Prior to Sunday, Rory was the only player to win multiple times on the PGA Tour this season. This is no longer the case.
Sepp Straka took home the Truist Championship that was being contended at Philly Cricket Club what with Quail Hollow hosting the PGA. Straka won the American Express earlier this year and is in fact only the second person to win multiple times this season.
The win was the fourth overall for Straka who is still just 32 years old. He is currently sitting in second in FedExCup rankings and is having an incredible season in his own right. He is projected to move inside of the Official World Golf Ranking, but obviously that metric is a bit tough to take in an overall sense these days.
Whether or not Straka can take down all of those contending for this week’s major is a totally different challenge, though. We will see what the week has in store.

Straka's achievement highlights his rising prominence in golf, while the broader context underscores the competitive landscape heading into a major tournament, with top players like McIlroy, Scheffler, and Schauffele in focus.

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
    

  
Sepp Straka and Rory McIlroy are on a certain list by themselves.
 The world of golf has all of its eyes and attention on Quail Hollow this week with the PGA Championship set to kick off. One thing we are not lacking is storylines.
Consider that Scottie Scheffler is still looking for his first non-Masters major win and that he won for the first time this season last week at the CJ CUP. Or how about the fact that Xander Schauffele is actually the defending champion of this event, and that he is also the reigning Open Champion of the year. What about the last person to win a PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Justin Thomas? Do you recall that JT’s buddy Jordan Spieth still needs this major for a career grand slam? Need I remind you that relative to this year’s Masters that Rory McIlroy won it to give himself the career grand slam? 
As noted there is a lot going on. McIlroy will be a huge focus what with his own history of success at Quail Hollow specifically and with the form that he is in. McIlroy did indeed win at Augusta this year and also emerged victorious at The Players and as well as Pebble Beach.
Prior to Sunday, Rory was the only player to win multiple times on the PGA Tour this season. This is no longer the case.
Sepp Straka took home the Truist Championship that was being contended at Philly Cricket Club what with Quail Hollow hosting the PGA. Straka won the American Express earlier this year and is in fact only the second person to win multiple times this season.
The win was the fourth overall for Straka who is still just 32 years old. He is currently sitting in second in FedExCup rankings and is having an incredible season in his own right. He is projected to move inside of the Official World Golf Ranking, but obviously that metric is a bit tough to take in an overall sense these days.
Whether or not Straka can take down all of those contending for this week’s major is a totally different challenge, though. We will see what the week has in store.

Sepp Straka joined Rory McIlroy on an exclusive list after winning the Truist Championship, as golf fans turn their attention to the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Other storylines include Scottie Scheffler seeking his first non-Masters major win and Xander Schauffele's recent performances.  

Sepp Straka joined only Rory McIlroy on a certain list with Truist Championship win

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 <img alt="F1 Grand Prix of Miami - Sprint &amp;amp; Qualifying" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ok1u1trzkk9yO9xiTWVJU58uJNM=/0x0:5994x3996/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/74078453/2213248361.0.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images</figcaption>
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 Sauber rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto cannot wait for this week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Shortly after his retirement from the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, Sauber rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto had his eyes set on the next race on the calendar.
With good reason.
This week, the grid heads to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as the series kicks off the European portion of the calendar. During the 2024 F2 season, Bortoleto <a href="https://www.fiaformula2.com/Results?raceid=1067">qualified in pole position</a> at Imola, and finished second in the F2 Feature race.
Speaking on that Sunday in Miami, Bortoleto outlined why he is looking ahead to this week, starting with the fact that it is his favorite circuit.
“Why is [Imola] my favorite? Because I love racing the track,” said Bortoleto to the media, including SB Nation, in Miami.
“I’ve done great results in my career there, you know, I [qualified on pole] there I think twice, and then I’ve always been on the podium in all the series I’ve done.”
Bortoleto elaborated on his fondness for Imola in <a href="https://www.sauber-group.com/">Sauber’s preview</a> of this week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
 “Imola is a track I have raced on before in other categories, but stepping up to Formula One is a whole different thing,” said Bortoleto. “It is definitely one of my favorite tracks: it has a great flow, and the challenge is something I enjoy. It is a place that demands your full attention – every corner counts. 
As for what the rookie driver is hoping for, Bortoleto is aiming for a “decent result” for Sauber this week.
“This weekend, I am focused on building on our learnings, staying sharp, and finding those extra tenths. I am ready to push hard and get a decent result for the team.”
SB Nation will have <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/24192465">full coverage of the F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix</a> this week, so come back early and often!

** Bortoleto's excitement highlights the significance of Imola as a key circuit in motorsport and reflects the enthusiasm of young drivers transitioning into F1. His past success there adds intrigue to his performance, underscoring how emerging talents can bring fresh energy to the sport.

Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images
    

  
Sauber rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto cannot wait for this week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
 Shortly after his retirement from the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, Sauber rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto had his eyes set on the next race on the calendar.
With good reason.
This week, the grid heads to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as the series kicks off the European portion of the calendar. During the 2024 F2 season, Bortoleto qualified in pole position at Imola, and finished second in the F2 Feature race.
Speaking on that Sunday in Miami, Bortoleto outlined why he is looking ahead to this week, starting with the fact that it is his favorite circuit.
“Why is [Imola] my favorite? Because I love racing the track,” said Bortoleto to the media, including SB Nation, in Miami.
“I’ve done great results in my career there, you know, I [qualified on pole] there I think twice, and then I’ve always been on the podium in all the series I’ve done.”
Bortoleto elaborated on his fondness for Imola in Sauber’s preview of this week’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
 “Imola is a track I have raced on before in other categories, but stepping up to Formula One is a whole different thing,” said Bortoleto. “It is definitely one of my favorite tracks: it has a great flow, and the challenge is something I enjoy. It is a place that demands your full attention – every corner counts. 
As for what the rookie driver is hoping for, Bortoleto is aiming for a “decent result” for Sauber this week.
“This weekend, I am focused on building on our learnings, staying sharp, and finding those extra tenths. I am ready to push hard and get a decent result for the team.”
SB Nation will have full coverage of the F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this week, so come back early and often!

** Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto is eagerly anticipating the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, his favorite track, after retiring from the Miami GP. The race marks the start of F1's European season, and Bortoleto previously secured pole position in F2 at Imola.  

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