I don't believe that's what occurred. It sounds to me like they said there was an ERS issue that was leading to the brake problem. They figured out the solution after Ham's brakes failed and while Nico's were in the process of failing. Whichever unit gives extra hp through regenerative braking was "switched off", killing NR's top-end but saving the brakes. Ham didn't create his brake problems, iow...
What in the world was Massa thinking, looked like he went right into Perez without even attempting to avoid him.
What a race! Mercedes needs to have issues more often & Force India needs to cockblock more often and last but not least Massa finally found his natural habitat in the end. Ferrari nowhere as usual, I'm over it.
it was visible from the Perez inboard that he lost the car when he braked in the corner(no rear brakes), the rear end slid in Massa's path.