what is a chicane in f1

A chicane in Formula 1 is a sequence of tight corners in alternate directions, usually inserted into a circuit to slow the cars down, often just before what had been a high-speed corner. The purpose of chicanes is to help with safety in a race and break up long straights of track. They have heavy breaking zones to avoid the cars going into more sweeping corners at dangerous speeds. It is in chicanes where F1 drivers usually make up or lose the most amount of lap time. In high-speed corners, drivers can go as fast as the car will allow, but in chicanes, it is up to the driver to weigh up the risk or reward of carrying too much speed. The most notorious tracks for chicanes are Monaco, Canada, and Monza. Chicanes are also used in traffic calming schemes to reduce the speed of traffic on roads and streets.