Depends on the track, Silverstone yes - Oulton no.
I think it's more to do with giving the driver confidence in having a well balanced car that communicates, rather than snaps and hurts. The main job of suspension is to keep the tyre in contact with the tarmac. Softer works well on our roads and lumpy tracks, stiff gives a false feeling of being better, but isn't. It makes for a skittish car that's very hard to control near the limit.