There's still a seat to fill at Toro Rosso for 2019 after last week's confirmation of the return to F1 of Daniil Kvyat, and a new name has now appeared on the team's list of prospects.
The Faenza-based squad will see Pierre Gasly step up to Red Bull, while Brendon Hartley - despite his impressive performance in qualifying last weekend in Japan - still has his work cut out for him to retain his drive with Toro Rosso next season.
"The results don't exactly show it, but I know I've got stronger at every race," said the Kiwi at Suzuka.
"I'm just focusing on doing the best I can one race at a time and hoping that I'm on the grid next year."
However, most pundits are banking on Pascal Wehrlein to replace Hartley, although Helmut Marko joked that when arranged alphabetically, Wehrlein "is very far down" Toro Rosso's shortlist.
Plenty other drivers are rumoured to also be on the list, but a new name has apparently emerged, according to Germany's Auto Bild: Alexander Albon.
The 22-year-old British-Thai racer is currently second in the F2 championship, behind leader George Russell.
Albon has historical ties to Red Bull, having been included in the energy drink company's young driver programme in 2012. He has also reportedly conducted simulator work for Mercedes at Brackley this year.
However, despite Auto Bild's speculation, Albon's chances of joining Toro Rosso are likely remote given that the F2 racer just committed to a season of Formula E with Nissan e.dams where he will partner former FE champion Sebastien Buemi.
Furthermore, the all-electric series' 2018/2019 campaign kicks off in Saudi Arabia on December 15 and will include several rounds clashing with the F1 calendar.
Former Mercedes protégé Pascal Wehrlein still seems like the most likely candidate to race alongside Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso next year.
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