In a method for operating a drive unit, for at least one operating quantity of the drive unit, a deviation from an initial value is represented by an adaptation value, which adaptation value is determined at various times. In an extreme value storage unit, a first adaptation value, determined at a first point in time, is stored. A second adaptation value, determined at a second point in time after the first point in time, is compared with the first adaptation value stored in the extreme value storage unit to determine whether the second adaptation value exceeds the first adaptation value in a prespecified direction. In this case, the extreme value storage unit is overwritten by the second adaptation value.