Method for operating a drive unit of a vehicle having an engine, which is operated in a first operating mode with a first number of cylinders and in a second mode with a second number of cylinders, wherein the first number and the second number are different from each other, whereby a switching the engine between the first operating state and the second operating state is delayed depending on a driver type and of a driving situation, characterized in that different delays in the switching of the engine between the first operating state and the second operating state by different hysteresis for a switching threshold of an operating variable of the drive unit be set, wherein a driver type detection unit determines a current driver type and a driving situation detection unit detects a current driving situation, wherein a delay unit checks whether the currently detected Fahrerty p an economical driver type, or whether the current driving situation is a downhill, wherein the delay unit selects a first hysteresis, if the driver type currently detected is an economical driver type or the current driving situation is a downhill, and wherein the delay unit otherwise differing from the first hysteresis Hysteresis selects.