A multi-pump control system includes a control module, a processing module, a communication interface, and a storage module. The control module runs n different subsets of i pumps of a multi-pump system including N pumps during n different configuration cycles at a speed ωj, wherein N≥2, 2≤n≤2N−1 and 1≤i≤N. Each configuration cycle j∈{1, . . . , n} is associated with a subset j∈{1, . . . , n} and a speed ωj. The communication interface receives signals indicative of operational parameters from each subset j during the associated configuration cycle j. The processing module determines an approximated pump characteristic Δp=f(q, ωj) based on the received signals for each subset j and under an assumption that the i pumps of each subset j share the same part q/i of a reference flow q. The storage module stores the approximated pump characteristic Δp=f(q, ωj) or parameters indicative thereof.