A method for controlling a drive system in a motor vehicle having at least one electronic control device, which detects the accelerator pedal position as an input signal and therefrom, corresponding to a basic characteristic curve, determines a wheel torque desired by the driver, the control device receives information concerning the presence of wheel slip as another input signal and, when wheel slip is present, stores a limit torque. For an accelerator pedal position which is greater than the accelerator pedal position at which the wheel slip has occurred, the basic characteristic curve is changed in that the desired wheel torque is limited to the limit torque.