A method is provided for the early induction of an additional start of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle with a hybrid drive including at least one electric drive unit and one internal combustion engine. When only the electric drive is in operation, then the internal combustion engine is additionally started no later than when the determined requested nominal drive torque exceeds the maximum possible drive torque of the electric drive unit. In order to initiate an additional startup of the internal combustion engine before reaching or exceeding the maximum possible drive torque of the electric drive unit by way of the requested nominal drive torque, the still unfiltered driver request torque or a limited driver request torque is evaluated.