Method for Operating an Internal Combustion Engine, in Particular of a Motor Vehicle, and Internal Combustion Engine

A method for operating an internal combustion engine which has at least one combustion chamber for combustion operation of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having an inlet valve which is assigned to the combustion chamber allowing flow of fresh air from an intake section of the internal combustion engine into the combustion chamber, wherein a load step where a torque provided by the internal combustion engine via its output shaft is increased from a first value to a second value, the second value being higher than the first value, the method comprising:

• while the load step is carried out, operating an inlet valve in accordance with a first operating method which is different than the second operating method such that the inlet valve is closed later as a in comparison with the second operating method, and wherein
• after the load step is carried out and while the internal combustion engine provides the torque which has the second value via its output shaft, switching from the first operating method to a second operating method that is based on the second operating method so that the inlet valve is closed earlier as a result in comparison with the first operating method.