Ferrari may have re-signed Kimi Raikkonen for 2017 as part of a long-term strategic plan to keep their options open if Lewis Hamilton becomes available, Sky Sports has been told. Jonathan Stewart Jersey . After deciding to overlook Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Romain Grosjean as potential replacements for Raikkonen, the Scuderia announced ahead of the British GP they have extended the 36-year-olds deal until the end of the 2017 season.Ferrari retain Raikkonen for the 2017 season But while Raikkonens extension effectively locks down a large chunk of the driver market, with Perez, Bottas and Grosjean now set to remain at Force India, Williams, and Haas respectively for at least another year, one explanation for Ferraris surprise announcement is the suggestion the Scuderia have concluded their best long-term play is a waiting game. Kimi Raikkonen will be at Ferrari in 2017 The inside line from our colleagues in Italy, who know everything there is to know about Ferrari, is that essentially yet again there wasnt much choice to be had, reported Sky Sports F1s Ted Kravitz from Silverstone.They have had a little more visibility of Romain Grosjean and his qualities, given that he drives for Ferrari b-team Haas, and from what theyve seen there is nothing to prove that he is better in an all-round sense than Raikkonen.The same goes for Esteban Gutierrez. The only question mark was Sergio Perez and Ferrari have come to the conclusion that, for whatever reason, he is not the driver for them. When is the British GP on Sky Sports?Raikkonens harmony with Sebastian Vettel also obviously plays a big part in this. But there is another tantalising detail in all of this Ive learnt about. The only person Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne thinks is worth a big purchase, and upsetting the apple cart for, is Lewis Hamilton. Its believed Marchionne thinks Hamilton is the only driver currently out there who is as quick, if not quicker, than Sebastian Vettel.Marchionne knows he probably cannot get him in the medium term as the Englishman is contracted to Mercedes until the end of 2018 but he also knows that, given the current climate at Mercedes, anything is possible. Lewis Hamilton, left, could be a target for Ferrari, Sky understands Another option might be Carlos Sainz, but a young driver who has yet to score his first podium in F1 isnt really the way Ferrari appoint their drivers - he isnt really a Ferrari driver yet.Hamilton wants his future at MercedesThere are no guarantees Hamilton will be available for hire for the 2018 season. The reigning world champion recently insisted he sees his future at Mercedes and signed a contract extension twelve months ago which was announced as running until the conclusion of 2018. There are, however, likely to be opt-out caveats in the deal. As Sky Sports reported at the time: Hamiltons new deal is unlikely to be his last in F1. Assuming it runs to its full three years, he will be 33 years of age when it expires, the same age as Alonso when the Spaniard re-signed for McLaren six months ago. Ferrari, who Hamilton supported as a boy, have made no secret of their admiration of his talent, while the Englishman has himself refused to rule out making a return to McLaren before the end of his career.The prospect of Hamilton partnering Vettel as a four-time world champion pitched against another four-time world champion may not be as unlikely as it first appears. Also See: Ferrari retain Raikkonen for 2017 Get a Sky Sports NOW TV pass Lewis and Nico given final warning The Formula 1 Gossip Column Riley Dixon Giants Jersey . Louis Cardinals. He was 48. The commissioners office said Bell died in his home state of Ohio. Bell had not been feeling well over the weekend and had been scheduled to see doctors later Monday at the Cleveland Clinic. Ray-Ray Armstrong Giants Jersey . Cilic cruised to victory, beating the seventh-seeded Seppi 6-1, 6-3 in just 72 minutes. He faced only one break point, winning 24 out of 29 points played on the first serve. http://www.giantsrookiestore.com/Giants-Cody-Latimer-Jersey/ .A. remained bitter for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on the long flight back home to New York.Manchester United landed a deal to sign defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, with the Portuguese club announcing that winger Nani is returning on loan from Old Trafford. Sporting, which is listed on the stock exchange in Lisbon, announced in a regulatory filing that United will pay 20 million euros ($27 million) for the 24-year-old Rojo. United confirmed the deal on Twitter but said it was subject to a medical examination being conductedd and personal terms being agreed. Alec Ogletree Jersey. Rojo has played 28 times for Argentina, including the 1-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup final last month. Uniteds need to strengthen in defence was highlighted Saturday when the team opened the Premier League season with a 2-1 loss to Swansea in Louis van Gaals debut as manager. The 27-year-old Nani is heading home for the 2014-15 season, seven years after joining United, Sporting said. Cheap Baltimore Orioles Gear Cheap Boston Red Sox Gear Cheap New York Yankees Gear Cheap Tampa Bay Rays Gear Cheap Toronto Blue Jays Gear Cheap Chicago Cubs Gear Cheap Milwaukee Brewers Gear Cheap Pittsburgh Pirates Gear Cheap Cincinnati Reds Gear Cheap St. Louis Cardinals Gear Cheap Arizona Diamondbacks Gear Cheap Colorado Rockies Gear Cheap Los Angeles Dodgers Gear Cheap San Diego Padres Gear Cheap San Francisco Giants Gear ' ' '