The invention relates to a method for controlling the start-up phase of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine (12). The internal combustion engine (12) is started by an electrical machine (16) that can be operated as a motor, and there is a preferably automatically actuatable clutch (50) in the drive train (11) between the internal combustion engine (12) and the electrical machine (16). A faster start-up response can be achieved if the internal combustion engine (12) is driven by the electrical machine (16) when the clutch (50) is engaged during start-up, and if the clutch capacitance (MK) is reduced according to a defined parameter, preferably the engine speed, the time or the torque (ME) of the electrical machine (16) or similar.