Daniil Kvyat has said that he is still not in a position to predict his next step in Formula 1.
Initially disappointed and angry to have been demoted by Red Bull, the energy drink's Dr Helmut Marko and Toro Rosso chief Franz Tost are now suggesting that the 22-year-old Russian will stay at the Faenza team in 2017.
Yet Kvyat himself is not ready to declare an outcome.
"I like Toro Rosso," he said. "It's a great team and I feel at home and I can promise that I will work day and night to bring good results."
Kvyat would not, however, be drawn on speculation that it is Red Bull's flagging confidence in its young GP2 star Pierre Gasly that has boosted his own chances for 2017.
"It's hard to have an opinion about someone else," he insisted. "I'm focused on my job and will take care of myself. I'm now in one day and not thinking about next week, next month or next year.
"Next season there will be major changes in the regulations, so the chances of success increase for all of the teams, including Toro Rosso.
"I like Toro Rosso, but of course we still have to discuss a lot. I don't know where I will be tomorrow, in a few weeks or a few months, but I think everything will fall into place."
The 2016 championship continues tomorrow with the British Grand Prix.
