Williams FW25

The FW25 was a completely new design after BMW showed signs of discontent at the performance of its predecessor in 2002.

Despite showing early promise with a potential win in the opening round at Albert Park in Melbourne (which became an actual second place, following a spin by Juan Pablo Montoya whilst in the lead of the race), the FW25 struggled for pace until Monaco when Michelin brought a new, wider tyre which eliminated the understeer problem with the FW25 that both Schumacher and Montoya bemoaned earlier in the season.

The pace of the FW25 immediately picked up, and started to show real championship potential at the Austrian Grand Prix, when, after qualifying third, Montoya led until his engine blew on lap 32.

Four wins and four second places followed in the the subsequent six Grands Prix.

The uplift in form was not to last, however. Ferrari protested the improved Michelin tyre, claiming it was wider than the regulations allowed, the FIA agreed Michelin remodelled their tyre and with the thinner tyre Williams wouldn’t win another race in 2003.

The sequence of fantastic results in the middle of the year was enough to again secure second place in the World Constructors Championship for the Williams team, but with that one FIA ruling, their chance of title was quashed.