Method for controlling a hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, the hybrid drive system comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, a hybrid transmission and a drive wheel, the hybrid transmission having shifting units (S1; S2; S3; S4), by means of which at least a first transmission gear (G1c), a second transmission gear and a third transmission gear can be set, wherein a transmission ratio between a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine and an output shaft of the hybrid transmission steadily decreases from the first transmission gear (G1c) via the second transmission gear to the third transmission gear, wherein both drive machines, that is to say the internal combustion engine and the electric machine, are coupled to the drive wheel in a torque-transmitting manner by means of the hybrid transmission, both in the first transmission gear (G1c) as well as in the second transmission gear and the third transmission gear, the hybrid transmission having a planetary gear mechanism which has a first input shaft and a second input shaft, wherein a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is or can be coupled to the first input shaft such that torques, starting from the internal combustion engine, can be introduced into the hybrid transmission via the first input shaft, wherein a rotor of the electric machine is or can be coupled to the second input shaft such that torques, starting from the rotor, can be introduced into the hybrid transmission via the second input shaft wherein, in the course of a power split, torques starting from the internal combustion engine are introduced into the hybrid transmission via the first input shaft and torques starting from the electric machine are introduced into the hybrid transmission via the second input shaft, while torques are discharged from the hybrid transmission via the output shaft, wherein, during an operation in which both the internal combustion engine and the electric machine introduce drive torques for driving the drive wheel into the hybrid transmission, third limit torques (G3R) are provided for the third transmission gear in a first mode in the case of a traction downshift, and second limit torques (G2H) are provided for the second transmission gear in a second mode in the case of a traction upshift, characterized in that a maximum third limit torque (G3Rm) of the first mode is greater than a maximum second limit torque (G2Hm) of the second mode, wherein, in the second mode, in the case of traction upshifts starting from the first transmission gear (G1c), initially the second transmission gear and then the third transmission gear are engaged, and in that, in the first mode, in the case of traction downshifts starting from the third transmission gear, the second transmission gear is skipped, wherein, in the case of traction upshifts, the second transmission gear is used and, in the case of traction downshifts, the second transmission gear is always skipped. the hybrid transmission having a planetary gear mechanism which has a first input shaft and a second input shaft, wherein a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine is or can be coupled to the first input shaft such that torques, starting from the internal combustion engine, can be introduced into the hybrid transmission via the first input shaft, wherein a rotor of the electric machine is or can be coupled to the second input shaft such that torques, starting from the rotor, can be introduced into the hybrid transmission via the second input shaft wherein, in the course of a power split, torques starting from the internal combustion engine are introduced into the hybrid transmission via the first input shaft and torques starting from the electric machine are introduced into the hybrid transmission via the second input shaft, while torques are discharged from the hybrid transmission via the output shaft, wherein, during an operation in which both the internal combustion engine and the electric machine introduce drive torques for driving the drive wheel into the hybrid transmission, third limit torques (G3R) are provided for the third transmission gear in a first mode in the case of a traction downshift, and second limit torques (G2H) are provided for the second transmission gear in a second mode in the case of a traction upshift, characterized in that a maximum third limit torque (G3Rm) of the first mode is greater than a maximum second limit torque (G2Hm) of the second mode, wherein, in the second mode, in the case of traction upshifts starting from the first transmission gear (G1c), initially the second transmission gear and then the third transmission gear are engaged, and in that, in the first mode, in the case of traction downshifts starting from the third transmission gear, the second transmission gear is skipped, wherein, in the case of traction upshifts, the second transmission gear is used and, in the case of traction downshifts, the second transmission gear is always skipped.