Williams FW25

The Williams FW25 is a Formula One car designed by Williams and powered by a BMW V10 engine. The car was used by Williams for the 2003 championship. Three drivers would drive the FW25 in the 2003 season, with Marc Gené replacing regular racer Ralf Schumacher for the Italian Grand Prix after the German suffered a large testing accident testing at Monza's Lesmo 1 corner prior to that race. The other regular driver Juan Pablo Montoya started all of the season's Grand Prix.

Juan Pablo Montoya driving the FW25 at the 2003 British Grand Prix
Williams FW25
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorWilliams
Designer(s)Patrick Head (Technical Director)
Gavin Fisher (Chief Designer)
Antonia Terzi (Chief Aerodynamicist)
PredecessorWilliams FW24
SuccessorWilliams FW26
Technical specifications
ChassisCarbon/Epoxy composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbone, torsion bar, pushrod
Suspension (rear)Double wishbone, coil spring, pushrod
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height950 mm (37 in)
WheelbaseOver 3,000 mm (118 in)
EngineBMW P83 2,998 cc (183 cu in) V10 naturally-aspirated Mid-mounted
TransmissionWilliams 7-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential
Power940 hp @ 19,200 rpm[1][2]
Weight600 kg (1,323 lb)
FuelPetrobras
LubricantsCastrol
TyresMichelin
Competition history
Notable entrantsBMW Williams F1 Team
Notable drivers3. Juan Pablo Montoya
4. Ralf Schumacher
4. Marc Gené
Debut2003 Australian Grand Prix
Last season2003
RacesWinsPolesF.Laps
16 (all variants)444
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0

The design of the 2003 Williams FW25 was a marked departure over its predecessor, and was a completely new design compared to the Williams FW24, something that Williams had not done between 2001 and 2002.[3] New to the 2003 design team was ex-Ferrari aerodynamicist, Antonia Terzi, who worked with existing designer Gavin Fisher after the departure of ex-chief aerodynamicist, Geoff Willis.[4]

Although the car could have easily won its first Grand Prix during the Australian Grand Prix but for a costly spin by Colombian driver Juan Pablo Montoya, the car did not establish itself amongst the frontrunners on the grid until the Austrian Grand Prix where Montoya led before retiring with engine failure. Until that race, both drivers complained about understeer due to flaws in the car's design. Montoya cited the FW25 as a favourite of his, praising the balance and the driveability with the powerful BMW engine which suited his aggressive driving style.[5]

A new, wider front tyre introduced by Michelin at the Monaco Grand Prix unlocked the potential of the FW25, which would win that race, score a double-podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, then go on to score dominant 1-2 victories at the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, and the next race, the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours.[6]

A change to the front tyre width caused by a protest lodged by Michelin's rivals Bridgestone, through the Ferrari team after the Hungarian Grand Prix caused controversy through the paddock, with Williams tipped to lose their competitive edge after that race due to a slimmer tyre design being raced at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza being seemingly at odds with the wider tyre that Williams brought with great effect to the Monaco Grand Prix. Despite Montoya's second place at Monza, being able to stay with eventual World Champion Michael Schumacher's Ferrari throughout the whole race, the FW25 would not win a race in the final three races of the season, the Italian GP, United States GP and Japanese GP took place after the tyre redesign. In fact, after Montoya's second place at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the FW25 would not earn another podium in the 2003 season, although Montoya led the final race at Suzuka before retiring with a hydraulics problem.[7]

On 18 June 2018, it was announced by Codemasters that this car would appear as a classic car in F1 2018.

Complete Formula One results

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position, results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Chassis Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
2003 FW25 BMW P83 3.0 V10 M AUS MAL BRA SMR ESP AUT MON CAN EUR FRA GBR GER HUN ITA USA JPN 144 2nd
Juan Pablo Montoya 2 11 Ret 7 4 Ret 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 6 Ret
Ralf Schumacher 8 4 7 4 5 6 4 2 1 1 9 Ret 4 Ret 12
Marc Gené 5

References
  1. "19,000 RPM BMW Formula One engine". newatlas.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  2. "One of the greatest engines in history of Formula 1: BMW V10". BMW BLOG. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  3. "Williams launch the FW25". us.motorsport.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  4. "2003 Williams FW25 BMW - Images, Specifications and Information". Ultimatecarpage.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  5. "Great racing cars: 2003 William-BMW FW25". Motor Sport Magazine. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  6. "2003 Williams FW25". conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  7. "HP F1 Racing - HP Williams BMW United States Grand Prix and World Championship Preview". www.espn.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.

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