Williams knew they had to step up a level in 2003, after two years of putting their pace-setting BMW engines into a sub-standard chassis.

Things did not look good when the FW25 first appeared - it was slower than the revised 2002 cars fielded early in the season by Ferrari and McLaren.

TEAM HISTORY Nationality: British Years in F1: 32 2003 position: 2nd Drivers' titles: 7 Constructors' titles: 9 Drivers: Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Team principal: Frank Williams

But Williams were always bullish about the fundamental quality of the car, and were insistent that by mid-season it would become truly competitive.

There were many sceptics, but Williams were proved right, with a remarkable upsurge in form.

From Monaco onwards, the FW25 became the car to beat and for a long time it looked as if its momentum would carry Juan Pablo Montoya to the drivers' title.

Williams could and should have won every one of the five races preceding the British Grand Prix - and they did win three of them.

Only in Austria, where Montoya's engine failed while he was in the lead, and in Canada, where both drivers contrived to hand victory to Michael Schumacher, did they miss out.

After that, Montoya won in Germany, finished third in Hungary where he could have won and only lost at Monza because he ran too much downforce in the race.

A fair proportion of this turnaround can be atributed to Williams' Michelin tyres, for the French company has turned the tables on rival Bridgestone, who supply Ferrari.

But it is not only that, or else McLaren would have made similar strides.

A large amount of credit has to go to the Williams aerodynamic department, long the weak link in the team.

And in turn that means the changes brought about by technical director Patrick Head over the preceding 12 months have paid off.

In the end, the title slipped through the team's fingers - too many mistakes were made by all concerned for it to be any other way.

But Williams were genuine title contenders for the first time since 1997, and at a time when many wondered if they still had it in them.

Which only goes to prove the truth in an old F1 cliche - never write off Williams.