Nico Hulkenberg would be open to racing alongside Fernando Alonso at Renault in Formula 1 next year, believing the Spaniard's signing would be "good for the team".

Alonso's McLaren contract expires at the end of the year, and the Spaniard re-stated his desire to be with a winning operation for 2018 on Thursday ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Alonso has been linked with a return to Renault for next year, with whom he won both of his F1 titles in 2005 and 2006.

When asked if Alonso arriving at the team for 2018 would be a chance to prove his talent, Hulkenberg agreed, saying he would relish the chance to go up against one of F1's biggest names.

"More of a chance, and a good reference for me to measure myselfNo one, not even the candidates, anticipated the slugfest that is shaping up in Michigan as Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney head toward the final hours before Tuesday's Republican presidential primary vote.

But anyone watching the ad campaigns in Michigan this week has a clue how close this race has become.

The stakes are very high, particularly for Romney. A failure to achieve anything other than the top spot in the state where his dad was governor for three terms could prove to be a dramatic momentum killer -- enabling Santorum to bolster his argument that Romney is far from the presumptive GOP nominee.

Making the rounds in the Wolverine State, Santorum said he didn't expect to be competing at this level, but he is very excited.

"You here, in Michigan, everyone