| 1.2.1981 | 24 h Daytona | 22 | M12 GT | Canary / Valentine | Dublin Investments | DNA |
| 7.2.1981 | GP South Africa | 7 | M29 F | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 5th |
| 7.2.1981 | GP South Africa | 7T | M29 F | Watson / de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | T-car |
| 7.2.1981 | GP South Africa | 8 | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 15.3.1981 | GP United States West | 7 | M29 F | John Watson | McLaren International | DNF |
| 15.3.1981 | GP United States West | 7T | MP4/1 | John Watson | McLaren International | T-car |
| 15.3.1981 | GP United States West | 8 | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren International | DNF |
| 15.3.1981 | GP United States West | 8T | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren International | T-car |
| 21.3.1981 | 12 h Sebring | 22 | M12 GT | Gunn / Canary | Paul Canary Racing | DNS |
| 29.3.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring 300 | 2 | M8F | Peter Hoffmann | Peter Hoffmann | DNF |
| 29.3.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring 300 | 5 | M8 Special | Siegfried Rieger | Siegfried Rieger | DNF |
| 29.3.1981 | GP Brazil | 7 | M29 F | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 8th |
| 29.3.1981 | GP Brazil | 7T | M29 F | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | T-car |
| 29.3.1981 | GP Brazil | 8 | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 12.4.1981 | GP Argentina | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 12.4.1981 | GP Argentina | 7T | M29 F | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 12.4.1981 | GP Argentina | 8 | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | 11th |
| 3.5.1981 | GP San Marino | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 10th |
| 3.5.1981 | GP San Marino | 7T | MP4/1 | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 3.5.1981 | GP San Marino | 8 | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | 6th |
| 10.5.1981 | 6 h Silverstone | 2 | M12 GT | Honegger / Canary | Z & W Enterprises Inc. | DNA |
| 17.5.1981 | GP Belgium | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | McLaren Marlboro International | 7th |
| 17.5.1981 | GP Belgium | 7T | MP4/1 | | McLaren Marlboro International | unused |
| 17.5.1981 | GP Belgium | 8 | M29 F | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren Marlboro International | DNF |
| 24.5.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring 1000 | 5 | M8F | Hoffmann / Przybilla | AC 1927 Mayen | DNA |
| 24.5.1981 | 1000 km Nürburgring | 5 | M8F | Hoffmann / Przybilla | AC 1927 Mayen | DNA |
| 24.5.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring 1000 | 8 | M8 Special | Rieger / Blanckley | Weigel Renntechnik | DNS |
| 24.5.1981 | 1000 km Nürburgring | 8 | M8 Special | Rieger / Blanckley | Weigel Renntechnik | DNS |
| 31.5.1981 | GP Monaco | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 31.5.1981 | GP Monaco | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 14.6.1981 | 24 h Le Mans | 90 | M12 GT | Regout / Elkoubi | Z & W Enterprises Inc. | DNQ |
| 21.6.1981 | GP Spain | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 3rd |
| 21.6.1981 | GP Spain | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 5.7.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring GP TW | 2? | M8F | Peter Hoffmann | | DNF |
| 5.7.1981 | GP France | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 2nd |
| 5.7.1981 | GP France | 7T | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | T-car |
| 5.7.1981 | GP France | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | 11th |
| 18.7.1981 | GP Great Britain | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 1st |
| 18.7.1981 | GP Great Britain | 7T | MP4/1 | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 18.7.1981 | GP Great Britain | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 26.7.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring | 2? | M8F | Peter Hoffmann | | 1st |
| 2.8.1981 | GP Germany | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | McLaren International | 6th |
| 2.8.1981 | GP Germany | 7T | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | T-car |
| 2.8.1981 | GP Germany | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | McLaren International | DNF |
| 16.8.1981 | Interserie Most | 2 | M8F | Peter Hoffmann | Peter Hoffmann | DNS |
| 16.8.1981 | GP Austria | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 6th |
| 16.8.1981 | GP Austria | 7T | MP4/1 | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 16.8.1981 | GP Austria | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | 8th |
| 23.8.1981 | 500 mile Road America | 90 | M12 GT | Canary / Valentine | Paul Canary | DNS |
| 30.8.1981 | GP Netherlands | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 30.8.1981 | GP Netherlands | 7T | MP4/1 | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 30.8.1981 | GP Netherlands | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNS |
| 13.9.1981 | GP Italy | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 13.9.1981 | GP Italy | 7T | MP4/1 | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 13.9.1981 | GP Italy | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | 7th |
| 20.9.1981 | Interserie Nürburgring Supersprint | 2 | M8F | Peter Hoffmann | Peter Hoffmann | 2nd |
| 27.9.1981 | GP Canada | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 2nd |
| 27.9.1981 | GP Canada | 7T | MP4/1 | | Marlboro McLaren International | unused |
| 27.9.1981 | GP Canada | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | DNF |
| 11.10.1981 | Interserie Zolder | 2 | M8F | Peter Hoffmann | Peter Hoffmann | DNS |
| 17.10.1981 | GP USA - Las Vegas | 7 | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | 7th |
| 17.10.1981 | GP USA - Las Vegas | 7T | MP4/1 | John Watson | Marlboro McLaren International | T-car |
| 17.10.1981 | GP USA - Las Vegas | 8 | MP4/1 | Andrea de Cesaris | Marlboro McLaren International | 12th |