A method controls an internal combustion engine having a drive output shaft that is coupled to an input shaft of a transmission. The internal combustion engine and the transmission are encompassed by a drivetrain for the drive of a motor vehicle. The method includes determining a rotational speed of the drive output shaft of the internal combustion engine and determining a rotational acceleration of the drive output shaft based on the rotational speed of the drive output shaft. A dynamic torque of the internal combustion engine is determined as a product of the rotational acceleration and a dynamic moment of inertia of the internal combustion engine. A maximum combustion torque of the internal combustion engine is determined from a sum of a predetermined maximum torque at the input shaft of the transmission and the dynamic load torque of the internal combustion engine.