The invention relates to a control apparatus and method for operating a road-bound hybrid vehicle. The vehicles includes a control apparatus for controlling the drive torque of a first drive unit which is associated with a first axle (such as front axle) and of the drive torque of a second drive unit which is associated with a second axle (such as back axle). One drive unit has at least one electric motor and the other drive unit has at least one internal combustion engine, wherein a load point increase, by which an energy store for operating the electric motor is charged, is limited by the internal combustion engine and the control unit. The limiting is performed by: in a first step, determining a maximum permissible upper limit for the load increase torque under optimum traction conditions (high friction coefficient) depending on the steering angle and on the vehicle speed. In a second step, performing, as required, a torque-reducing adaptation of the previously determined upper limit to match traction-impairing environmental influences (low friction coefficient, ice, snow and rain) which may be present.