This is simple stuff folks, turning the steering wheel under heavy braking to avoid Vettel changes the slip angle of Dan's front tires and the result is the left wheel becomes unloaded, as weight transfers to the right side, locking up and flat-spotting the left tire. Had he not had to avoid Vettel I dont believe he'd have flat-spotted the tire.Wynters wrote: I don't think it's a surprise that the tyre that suffered worst was the left front, given Ricciardo had to move to the left after he started braking in order to try and avoid Vettel. Looking at Ricciardo's initial line, he was moving from the inside towards the middle of the track. Steps on the brake. Vettel moves back. Ricciardo straightens the Red Bull and the inside wheel locks as the car's weight shifts to the right. Vettel still coming across so he has to move again, now pointing towards the inside of the corner. Lock up gets worse.
For Ricciardo, would he have locked up if Vettel hadn't moved towards him? Maybe, maybe not. Would not locking up mean he didn't over run the apex? Maybe, maybe not. He'd definitely arrive with less speed and on a wider line if he didn't lock up and didn't have to accommodate Vettel's move. Would that be sufficient? Who knows. Lot's of 'ifs' and 'buts' ... I don't think it's clear cut.
I've bolded the important bit above, If you aren't familiar with "slip angles", go look them up.