Williams F1 FW25 Set to Hit the Track Again After Over Two Decades

The iconic Williams FW25, which saw action during the 2003 Formula One season, is making its much-anticipated return to the racetrack after spending 23 years in storage. This particular car was piloted by renowned drivers Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, who achieved remarkable success at that year's French Grand Prix, finishing in first and second places respectively.

The restoration of the FW25 was undertaken by the heritage division of the Grove-based Williams F1 team, along with the engineers who originally worked on the vehicle. The car is now ready to compete again, powered by its original 3.0-litre V10 engine, and will make its debut at the iconic Nürburgring in Germany.

Jonathan Kennard, the heritage director at Williams, expressed his excitement about the revival of the FW25, stating that the team was "overjoyed" to be involved with the car once more. He noted the strong emotional connection the team has with this particular model. "It's probably one of our favourite cars that we ever made in our history," Kennard said.

Highlighting the significance of the restoration, he mentioned that having the original engineers involved was invaluable. "When this [car] was made, I think Williams F1 team probably had around 450 people all with this sole aim of designing the fastest racing car to go and win the World Championship," he added. The vehicle had been untouched since its last race in 2003.

While acknowledging that the restoration process was costly, Kennard confirmed that the original V10 engine is back in operation, running at its peak performance of 19,000 rpm. He remarked on the nostalgic sound of the engine, saying, "the restored FW25 had a noise that was absolutely terrific." The FW25 will be competing in four rounds of the 2026 BOSS GP series, with several renowned tracks, including Magny-Cours and Mugello, slated for races following its debut at the Nürburgring.

Phil Stratford, the car's owner, shared his excitement about racing the FW25, calling it a "lifelong ambition" and expressing gratitude for the support from the Williams Heritage team. "To bring it back to competition is extraordinary. I cannot wait," he said.