Williams had been very successful using Renault engines.
They won the 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997 Drivers' Championships.
They also won the 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997 Constructors' Championships.
When Renault left F1 at the end of 1997, Williams needed a new engine.
In 1998, the BMW signed a contract to supply the Williams team with engines.

BMW spent 18 months building and testing a normally aspirated, 3.0 litre V10 engine.
The E41 engine was ready to race in the 2000 season.
The Williams FW22 with the BMW E41 engine was driven by Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button.
Schumacher scored a podium finish in the engine's first race.
The team finished the year with two more podium finishes, and third in the Constructors' Championship.

For 2001, BMW designed a more aggressive P80 engine.
The engine had a big power improvement.
Schumacher and new team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya scored four race wins.
For 2002, the team won only one race with Schumacher at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Montoya took seven pole positions, but was not able to win a single race.

The Williams team was more competitive in 2003.
Both drivers won on two time.
For 2004, Williams produced the FW26 chassis with a radical nose section.
This design did not work very well.
Williams slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Montoya's victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix the team's only win (and the team's final win to date).
Both Schumacher and Montoya left the team at the end of the season.

2005 was the final year of Williams using the BMW engine.
The team continued to be less competitive.
None of the team's drivers were able to win a race.
By this time, BMW was upset with Williams.
BMW thought the engine was able to win, and the Williams chassis was the problem.
BMW offered to buy Williams outright.
They wanted to gain overall control of its Formula One efforts.
Frank Williams would not sell the team.
BMW chose to buy the rival Sauber team instead for 2006 and end its deal with Williams.
Williams had been very successful using Renault engines. They won the 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1997 Drivers' Championships. They also won the 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997 Constructors' Championships. When Renault left F1 at the end of 1997, Williams needed a new engine. In 1998, the BMW signed a contract to supply the Williams team with engines.
BMW spent 18 months building and testing a normally aspirated, 3.0 litre V10 engine. The E41 engine was ready to race in the 2000 season. The Williams FW22 with the BMW E41 engine was driven by Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button. Schumacher scored a podium finish in the engine's first race. The team finished the year with two more podium finishes, and third in the Constructors' Championship.
For 2001, BMW designed a more aggressive P80 engine. The engine had a big power improvement. Schumacher and new team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya scored four race wins. For 2002, the team won only one race with Schumacher at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Montoya took seven pole positions, but was not able to win a single race.
The Williams team was more competitive in 2003. Both drivers won on two time. For 2004, Williams produced the FW26 chassis with a radical nose section. This design did not work very well. Williams slipped to fourth in the Constructors' Championship. Montoya's victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix the team's only win (and the team's final win to date). Both Schumacher and Montoya left the team at the end of the season.
2005 was the final year of Williams using the BMW engine. The team continued to be less competitive. None of the team's drivers were able to win a race. By this time, BMW was upset with Williams. BMW thought the engine was able to win, and the Williams chassis was the problem. BMW offered to buy Williams outright. They wanted to gain overall control of its Formula One efforts. Frank Williams would not sell the team. BMW chose to buy the rival Sauber team instead for 2006 and end its deal with Williams.
BMW in Formula One