Later on in the season, the team adopted a hydro-pneumatic system to lower the car on track but this did not work effectively until the Belgium race.

After two years of using the Cosworth DFV, for the 1981 season, team owner Guy Ligier had arranged a supply of Talbot-badged Matra V12 engines.

The V12 engine, designated the MS81 and newly developed by Georges Martin, initially generated an average of 510 bhp at 12,500 rpm.

[1] By the Belgian Grand Prix, the team had gotten its hydropneumatic suspension working properly[2] and this saw an improved performance with Jabouille making the grid in 16th while Laffite was ninth.

[1] In contrast, Jabouille failed to qualify for the Monaco race and, after making 19th on the grid in Spain, retired with brake problems.

[1] Recognising his racing performance was compromised, Jabouille stepped down from driving duties for the team after the Spanish Grand Prix and was now providing technical direction.

[1] Thanks to the assistance of Jabouille in tyre selection, Laffite won in Austria[2] from fourth on the grid, taking fastest lap along the way.

[2] At the season finale, in Las Vegas, he qualified 12th[1] but had worked his way into second place during the race when he had to make a pitstop for tyres and ultimately finished sixth.

After boycotting the San Marino Grand Prix, Cheever finished third at Zolder with Laffite in ninth place.