In ore aspect, a method is provided or braking a work vehicle including an engine and a hydrostatic drive system including a hydraulic pump configured to be rotationally driven by the engine and a hydraulic motor fluidly coupled with the hydraulic pump through a closed hydraulic loop of the hydrostatic drive system. The hydraulic pump may be configured to fluidly drive the hydraulic motor. The method may include receiving an operator request to reduce a ground speed of the work vehicle. The method may include monitoring a fluid temperature of a hydraulic fluid associated with the closed hydraulic loop and automatically controlling at least one of a pump displacement of the hydraulic pump or a motor displacement of the hydraulic motor based on the operator request and the monitored fluid temperature to adjust hydrostatic braking of the work vehicle and thereby reduce the ground speed of the work vehicle.