A chicane in racing is a short section of track made of tight, alternating turns, usually left-right or right-left, that forces drivers to slow down and change direction quickly.

Why it exists

  • Safety: Chicanes are often added to high-speed sections to reduce speed and lower risk.
  • Strategy: They can create passing chances because braking and line choice matter a lot.
  • Track design: They make a circuit more technical and test driver precision.

Simple example

Think of a straight road that suddenly bends one way, then immediately the other way. That’s the basic shape of a chicane.

In one line

A chicane is basically a speed-reducing zigzag in the track.

If you want, I can also show you a diagram-style explanation or give examples from F1, NASCAR, or MotoGP.