Nico Hulkenberg is to leave Force India and join Sauber next year.
And Mexican Esteban Gutierrez, the team's reserve driver, is tipped as a partner for the German, which would leave Kamui Kobayashi without a seat.
Mexican Sergio Perez, Kobayashi's team-mate this year, is joining McLaren to replace Mercedes-bound Lewis Hamilton.
Ex-Toro Rosso drivers Sebastian Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari are vying with former Force India driver Adrian Sutil to be Hulkenberg's replacement.
If he loses the Sauber seat, Kobayashi also has a chance to go to Force India but is likely to have to find some sponsorship to secure the drive.
Sauber have not yet officially confirmed Hulkenberg but the deal is understood already to be done.
To add to that, Ted Kravitz said on Sky that it was 'possible' that Sauber could drop Kobayashi immediately and draft in Gutierrez for the last four races. After what happened in Japan I do feel a bit sorry for Kobayashi, but at the same time his performance today and being outperformed by Perez has done him no favours really.