There is an interview with Newey on AMuS in German.
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/for ... 3-konzept/
Some sentences translated:
No team has the best solution
For the fact that a Ferrari with completely different sidepods was practically as fast as the Red Bull, Newey has a surprising answer ready:
"That means that none of us is absolutely right and there has to be something better. You can things like wings or sidepods never isolate . Everything only works as a package. A Ferrari sidepod will not fit our underbody and vice versa. There is always an interaction between these elements."
"We will continue to develop our concept because we know it best. But I don't dare to say whether our way is the best.
It's quite possible that someone else will turn the corner with a better idea."
The problem with forecasts is that no one knows the destination. "None of us yet know where we will end up when developing our own concepts. Perhaps another one has much greater development potential that is still lagging behind today."
Newey also does not want to rule out that someone will find a solution that no one has on their radar at the moment.
"Think of the double diffuser. That loophole in the transition from floor to step was always there. It just wasn't discovered."