Fresh from a podium finish in Singapore, Timo Glock is uncertain which Formula One team he will represent next season but another good showing for Toyota in Suzuka on Sunday would certainly raise his profile.
The first race at the Red Bull Ring would be on the July 3-5 weekend.
Japan's Kamui Kobayashi will make his Formula One race debut in Brazil next weekend after Toyota ruled out regular driver Timo Glock due to a back injury on Sunday. Toyota said the 27-year-old German is also doubtful for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1.
Jules Bianchi, who went into a coma after suffering brain injuries in a horrific crash in Japan last October, recorded his first points for Marussia at the Monaco GP last season.
However intense the pain felt by Formula One after Jules Bianchi's horrific accident in Japan, and the shock is deep indeed, Friday's inaugural Russian Grand Prix practice offers some respite.
The crash that left French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi in a critical condition with severe head injures was down to bad luck rather than poor judgement by Japanese Grand Prix race officials, a track spokesman said on Tuesday.
Next year's season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne has been brought forward to March 20, to allow space for an August break, after previously being listed for a later than usual start on April 3.
French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi has died of critical head injuries.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, the Briton's closest rival, finished only sixth after an early collision with Red Bull's Max Verstappen left the German fighting back from 19th place.
The Renault team boss said they have done everything they could to support Fernando Alonso
Renault took second and third place with Italian Giancarlo Fisichella and newly-crowned champion Fernando Alonso respectively.
The 1998 and 1999 F1 champion was the slowest man on the track in his first test for McLaren in more than five years.
Rediff Readers catch up to talk about Formula 1.
The German believes his experience will make the difference in his F1 title battle with Renault's Fernando Alonso.
Officials announced that qualifying was rescheduled for the morning of the race after torrential rain caused havoc during free practice.
Honda will name their new team for 2006 in agreement with future sponsors.
Despite the determination of McLaren, Williams and Renault, Ferrari are still hungry.
Indian driver Arjun Maini's road to Formula 1 has become tougher with his shock switch to sports car racing.
Four times world champion Sebastian Vettel is leaving Red Bull at the end of the season and is set to join Ferrari, the Formula One team said on Saturday.
Yamaha's Valentino Rossi will try to make a race return in Spain this weekend, three weeks after breaking his leg in an off-road training accident, if MotoGP doctors give him the green light.
Michael Schumacher was third with sole title rival Kimi Raikkonen fifth quickest.
Williams driver Felipe Massa has revealed that he considered quitting Formula One after Marussia driver Jules Bianchi's 160 miles-per-hour horror accident during the Japanese Grand Prix.
Critically injured French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi is no longer in an artificial coma but remains unconscious, his family said in a statement on Wednesday.
2016 F1 calendar to feature record 21-race campaign
Formula One's 2015 season, comprising 20 races, kicks-off in Australia on March 15.
Ferrari and McLaren stand to lose millions as a result of the collapse of the Marussia Formula One team, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.
Marussia expressed shock and anger on Wednesday at media allegations that French driver Jules Bianchi had ignored warning flags and been told to go faster by the Formula One team before he crashed and suffered critical head injuries in Japan.
Britain's Lewis Hamilton won a wet and sombre Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his Formula One lead over Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg to 10 points with four races remaining.
Niki Lauda pondered the mystery of the disappearing Mercedes on Sunday after Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finished one-two in the Japanese Grand Prix but barely featured in television coverage.