Robert Kubica seems to have dropped out of contention for a seat at Toyota in 2010.
"It looks like we have probably lost Robert," team president John Howett admitted to the BBC at Suzuka.
The news means that Pole Kubica, 24, will now almost certainly sign for Renault, who want to announce Fernando Alonso's replacement next week.
It is believed the announcement will be made probably on Wednesday, and possibly Tuesday.
The fact that Toyota is still on the market might be good news for Jarno Trulli, after Howett recently said the Italian is very unlikely to still be with the Cologne based outfit next March.
But after finishing second at Suzuka, the 35-year-old driver baulked when told by a reporter that his "future seems uncertain".
"No, my future is not uncertain," Trulli answered.
