Lando Norris was left consigned to the garage at the start of second practice for the Japanese Grand Prix due to another issue with his McLaren.
The F1 champion failed to start the last race in China due to an electrical problem with the battery component of the Mercedes power unit.
Following an investigation by Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, it was discovered that the issue was irreparable, leaving the British driver with just two available batteries for the remainder of the season.
After finishing third quickest in FP1, Norris missed the opening 23 minutes of FP2 due to a hydraulics leak, leaving him playing catch-up with his programme.
Two minutes later, team-mate Oscar Piastri went fastest on soft tyres, almost a second clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. It was a lap that kept Piastri out front by the end of the session.
Norris at least fared reasonably, finishing fourth fastest, half a second adrift of Piastri.
Norris was not the only driver who encountered a problem, as Arvid Lindblad reported trouble with the gearbox on his outlap in his Racing Bulls that immediately forced him back to the garage.
The British rookie said he was unable to select any gears, a problem that kept him off track for the remainder of the hour.
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