Driving at speed, without consistency, creates small incremental erosion of the line that is aggravated by competition. Uncorrected, these cascading changes never reverse themselves. The line is a path - a path that provides its own road map to the quickest way back from deviation. But, more importantly, the line provides an ability to anticipate. Traversing a line is one thing, learning to use it is quite another.
Skilled drivers are expert at anticipating other driver's lines.
Acting on anticipation rather than reflex is sort of a slow motion film, the slower it seems, the better the anticipation and the quicker the lap speed. Acting on reflex, the faster the film, the more events speed up and the slower the lap speed. Either way, when speed exceeds anticipation, it is impossible to use the car to its full potential. Getting it right brings a compelling sensation from any sport. The choreographer of this coming together is anticipation.