Lando Norris has lamented "missing all the feelings" he had at the Marina Bay Street Circuit last season, when he won the Singapore Grand Prix from pole.
The McLaren driver was the class of the field and narrowly missed out on a first Grand Chelem in F1 when Daniel Ricciardo clinched the fastest lap — and its extra point — on the final lap of his own career.
A year on from that domination, Norris' start to the round has been a far cry from his stranglehold on the opposition that weekend.
The Briton found himself slower than team-mate and F1 drivers' championship rival Oscar Piastri in both of Friday's practice sessions.
After the papaya pair were only fifth and sixth fastest in FP1, the Australian topped the second hour of running as he looks to rebound after a disappointing trip to Baku.
Meanwhile, Norris could only go fifth in the heavily disrupted session. Reflecting on the situation after FP2, he said: "A difficult day for me.
"Not feeling too great with the car, missing all the feelings I had here last year, plenty of things to work on. Just a bad day.
"Oscar's quick, so I have nothing to complain about bar just not doing a very good job."
Norris' underwhelming FP2 was compounded by Charles Leclerc clattering into his MCL39 in the pit lane at the resumption following the second — Liam Lawson-induced — red flag.
However, the nine-time grand prix winner, who sustained a damaged front wing in the collision, insisted it did not affect his running thereafter.
"No, I mean it cost the team a bit of money, which is a shame," the 25-year-old said.
Leclerc was promptly noted by the stewards, who opted to investigate the incident after the session. The verdict of which has yet to be announced.
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Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes and Nick Golding, as they dissect the opening day of track action at the Marina Bay Circuit!
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