The McLaren M19A debuted at the 1971 South African Grand Prix with 1967 world champion Denny Hulme driving. Peter Gethin continued driving a McLaren M14A until a second M19A was built for the Dutch Grand Prix. Jackie Oliver took over driving the second McLaren for the Austrian Grand Prix after Gethin left to drive for BRM. Hulme scored the M19's first fastest lap at the Canadian Grand Prix, but a string of reliability issues had left McLaren placing only sixth in the Constructor's Championship.