Cramped qualifying session puts Aussies down the Formula 3 grid in Austria

A tight qualifying session on the 4.3km Red Bull Ring left Jack Doohan in seventh and Calan Williams in thirteenth for the FIA Formula 3 weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Calan Williams has to back off his final lap as he emerges into traffic. (Fox Sports)

"Had the pace to be higher than P7 today, but unfortunately it didn’t go our way," said Doohan.

"Looking forward to the three races ahead."

The short track and cool conditions mean that drivers were fighting for position and struggling to warm their tyres in the half-hour session, with lap times falling as soon as any one car could find clear air.

Doohan will start sixth once the top twelve are reversed to start Race 1.

Jack Doohan waits for qualifying to start at the Red Bull Ring. (Jack Doohan)

Williams was one of many drivers forced to compromise a final lap due to traffic in the busy final sector.

"Caught out by traffic at the end of a really good lap but that’s the way it goes!"

"Very close at the top so we can race from there!"

William’s positive comments hid the fact that he missed out on reverse-grid pole by just 0.011 seconds.

Calan Williams was forced to compromise his final lap. (Fox Sports)

He was less than half a second behind Dennis Hauger, whose time earned him outright pole position for Sunday's third race.

The top 24 drivers were separated by less than a second in the competitive outing.