Daniel Ricciardo has enjoyed a return to the points with a top five finish in what was a chaotic Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix overnight. 
  
With the Jeddah Corniche Circuit holding its first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix, there was plenty of drama throughout the weekend with the penultimate race of the season reaching boiling point at multiple times. 
  
Ricciardo’s race looked to have been a long one in the lead up as the West Australian failed to make it past Q2 on Sunday morning due to a damaged floor, qualifying in 11th place. 
  
However, when it came to the race, he was far from deterred and got off to a brilliant start, despite being one of only three drivers opting for a long game strategy on the hard tyres as opposed to the many on the medium compound. 
  
Within the first lap, Ricciardo was already up to P9 having picked up spots and by the time DRS came about, he claimed another position, flying past Pierre Gasly on lap eight. 
  
Just two laps later, the drama began and the first of the many race interruptions occurred with Mick Schumacher crashing into the barriers and forcing a red flag – McLaren using the 18-minute break to use a free tyre change for Ricciardo. 
  
Before the session was red flagged though, the safety car was called out, which many drivers, including Ricciardo’s teammate Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who were occupying fifth and sixth, took the opportunity to do their pit stops. 
  
The decision to stay out during the safety car intervention paid massive dividends for Ricciardo, as it bumped him up to fifth place, before all the cars were ultimately brought in. 
  
On the restart, a lock up to Valtteri Bottas allowed Ricciardo to slot into fourth place before the race was again brought to a halt just a few corners later as Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel came together, as did George Russell and Nikita Mazepin in a wild double crash. 
  
Once the action resumed for the second time, Ricciardo went about his business and did his best to defend fourth place but couldn’t hold off Bottas on lap 40 as the Finn passed him to eventually make it to the podium at the expense of Esteban Ocon. 

Ricciardo's fifth was his first race finish inside the top 10 since the United States Grand Prix in October where he placed. in the same position.
  
In front of Bottas, title contenders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton continued their intense fight for the championship with a multiple contact incidents, tough tactics, and limitless driving all playing a role in a fiery fight for the lead. 
  
Eventually, Hamilton would enjoy bragging rights over his younger rival with victory – the seven-time champion’s fastest lap bonus point putting both drivers on equal points ahead of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.   
  
The final race of the FIA Formula 1 season takes place at Yas Marina Circuit on 12 December, with the race to get underway at 12am AEDT on Monday 13 December.