Canada's Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve suffered concussion after falling while skiing on Wednesday.

Bruno Vaginay, mayor of Praloup where the accident took place, reported that the 26-year-old Villeneuve was flown by helicopter to hospital where he was held for several hours as he was feeling groggy.

"He was slightly concussed which required several hours of rest," a Praloup spokesman said.

Villeneuve, who added the Formula One championship to the 1995 IndyCar title after main rival Michael Schumacher went off in the final Grand Prix of the season, later left to celebrate the New Year with a group of friends in Switzerland.