In a method for controlling a drive system (3, 203) of a hybrid vehicle (1, 201), a performance-oriented mode or a consumption-oriented mode can be selected for the drive system, whereby, when the consumption-oriented mode is selected, in the case of a first condition, the method involves: controlling the drive system in a parallel boost hybrid mode of operation in which the internal combustion engine (5, 205) and additionally the first electric machine and/or the second electric machine delivers a drive torque until a criterion is met that depends on the duration of the operation and/or on the energy conversion in the parallel boost hybrid mode of operation, and if the criterion is met, changing over to a serial hybrid mode of operation in which the drive torque is delivered by means of the second electric machine (11, 211), and the internal combustion engine (5, 205) powers the first electric machine (9, 209) in order to generate electrical energy.