Daniel Ricciardo's first points finish for 2022 will have to wait, after the Australian's engine failed in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

World champion Max Verstappen won after a scintillating battle with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Ricciardo had produced a very good race, rising from 14th to ninth, and looked set to score his first points of the year. 

But after being overtaken by his teammate Lando Norris, Ricciardo's engine cut out with less than 15 laps to go.

"I've got no drive. I can't accelerate," he said. 

After a disappointing start one week earlier in Bahrain, Ricciardo and McLaren were more competitive around the streets of Jeddah.

Starting 14th, Ricciardo was able to make up an early place before having an eight-lap battle with Lewis Hamilton.  

The Australian was the first driver to come into the pits after lap 8, putting on hard tyres to see him to the end of the 50-lap race.

Following a safety car on lap 16 when Nicholas Latifi crashed into the wall, Ricciardo had moved into 12th and was looking faster than those around him. 

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More solid driving on older tyres allowed Ricciardo to move up into the points, before his teammate, on fresher tyres, overtook him.

Ricciardo was one of three drivers who all retired with car issues on the same lap, with Alpine's Fernando Alonso and Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas also failing to finish. 

Norris was able to secure McLaren's first points of the season, finishing seventh.

Verstappen's late overtake leads to race win 

For the second consecutive race, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc put on a wheel-to-wheel battle for victory.

The pair were the beneficiaries of the lap 16 safety car, overtaking Sergio Perez, who had been the race leader.

Perez pitted one lap before the safety car, sending him out of sync with the rest of the drivers who pitted after the crash while everyone had to slow down. 

Perez was demoted to fourth while Leclerc set about holding Verstappen at bay for the second race in a row. 

The Dutchman made his first move on lap 42, only for the Ferrari to overtake him the following lap. 

Verstappen then seized his moment at the start of lap 47, getting his man down the main straight and never relinquishing the lead. 

"It was a really tough, but good race," he said.

"Really happy that we finally kick-started the season."

Following his victory in the season-opener, Leclerc maintained his lead in the drivers' championship.

The Ferrari driver said he was disappointed not to hold on for consecutive wins, but was full of praise for his rival. 

"Oh my God I really enjoyed that race. It's hard racing but fair," he said.

"Every race should be like this."

His teammate Carlos Sainz finished third, while Perez came home in fourth.