Why is it that F1/racing cars can go so much faster than normal, everyday cars?

Question: Why is it that F1/racing cars can go so much faster than normal, everyday cars?
- Keywords:
  car,
  speed,
  technology,
  work
Asked by steffi to Colin on 26 Jun 2013.
- Colin Dick answered on 26 Jun 2013:
  
  The main reason is because they have much more powerful engines! This is why they go faster in a straight line. They also go faster around the corners and this is because they have been designed to have ‘downforce’ which pushes the car into the track and gives it more grip. If you put a F1 engine in an everyday car, it would spin the wheels really fast but the car wouldn’t move because it wouldn’t have enough grip between the tyres and the road.

Question: Why is it that F1/racing cars can go so much faster than normal, everyday cars?