Valtteri Bottas a 'loser' as Red Bull chief makes brutal assessment of ex-Mercedes star

Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has brutally labelled Valtteri Bottas 'a loser' while comparing the Finn to Sergio Perez. Bottas has replaced 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen at Swiss-based outfit Alfa Romeo, with George Russell taking over from the Finn at the Silver Arrows.

Bottas enjoyed five success-laden season with Mercedes after replacing 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg following the German's sudden retirement.

The Finn played a vital role as Mercedes romped to five Constructors' Championships in a row, while teammate Hamilton won four Drivers' Championships to draw level with the great Michael Schumacher on seven.

Bottas acted as support for Hamilton as he pursued an eighth title, which was controversially snatched from him by Red Bull star Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

Perez was brought into Red Bull ahead of the 2021 season to help the Dutchman's challenge for the Drivers' Championship, and he scored enough points - 190 to finish P4 - to keep Red Bull in the Constructors' title race, too.

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Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, of AlphaTauri and Williams respectively, both endured torrid stints at Red Bull, failing to match the performance of Verstappen.

While Perez didn't either, the Mexican played a vital role in ensuring Verstappen became champion, including an impressive defence at the dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix against Lewis Hamilton.

Similarly to Gasly and Albon, Perez suffered regularly in qualifying which hindered his ability to influence the title race effectively - but Marko insists the 32-year-old showed his ability to climb through the midfield.

He believes this is where Perez has the advantage over Bottas.

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