The FW25 represented a significant departure from its predecessor, the FW24, marking a complete redesign – a change Williams hadn’t undertaken between the 2001 and 2002 seasons. The 2003 design team included the addition of Antonia Terzi, an aerodynamicist formerly with Ferrari, working alongside existing designer Gavin Fisher, following the departure of chief aerodynamicist Geoff Willis.
The FW25’s design was a complete departure from the previous two seasons. The car benefitted from a powerful BMW V10 engine, which Montoya would later praise for its suitability to his aggressive driving style. A key development during the season was the impact of a new, wider front tyre introduced by Michelin at the Monaco Grand Prix, unlocking the car’s potential.
The FW25 showed early promise, with Juan Pablo Montoya nearly winning the Australian Grand Prix, but a late-race spin cost him victory. The car didn’t consistently become a frontrunner until the Austrian Grand Prix, where Montoya led before an engine failure. Both drivers initially struggled with understeer, limiting them to minor points finishes.
Following the Monaco Grand Prix, Montoya secured his first win of the season. The team then achieved dominant 1–2 victories at both the European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring and the French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours, with Ralf Schumacher leading Montoya home in both races. This mid-season resurgence propelled Montoya’s title challenge, with consecutive podiums – a second place at the British Grand Prix, a win at the German Grand Prix by over a minute, and a third place at the Hungarian Grand Prix – leaving him just one point behind Michael Schumacher in the Drivers’ Championship. Williams also led the Constructors’ Championship by eight points with three races remaining.
A protest lodged by Bridgestone (through Ferrari) regarding Michelin’s tyres after the Hungarian Grand Prix led to a change in front tyre width. This caused controversy, as many believed the narrower tyre design implemented at the Italian Grand Prix would negatively impact Williams’ competitive edge, which had been built around the wider tyre used at Monaco. Despite Montoya finishing second at Monza, maintaining pace with Schumacher’s Ferrari, the FW25 failed to win in the final three races of the season – Italy, the United States, and Japan. Montoya’s title hopes ended at the United States Grand Prix, but Williams still entered the Japanese Grand Prix with a chance to win their tenth Constructors’ Championship. Montoya led the race at Suzuka) before a hydraulics problem forced his retirement.
Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, a protest lodged by Bridgestone through the Ferrari team regarding Michelin's tyres resulted in a change to Michelin's front tyre width. This change caused controversy, with Williams believed to be disadvantaged by the subsequent narrower tyre design.
Montoya later cited the FW25 as a favourite car, praising its balance and driveability alongside the powerful BMW engine. In 2018, Codemasters included the FW25 as a classic car in the video game F1 2018.
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