Motor sport is rarely simple, especially today. Take Formula E and the much-heralded Gen3 opener in Mexico City last Saturday.

Watching from a vantage point on the start/finish straight, the first race for the all-new generation of electric-powered single-seaters was a little underwhelming, despite including many of the elements we look for in exciting motor racing: a pass for the lead and win; a spirited battle for the podium that built nicely as the race progressed; even a change of position on the final lap. It all played out in front of a traditionally enthusiastic Mexican crowd that packed the main grandstands and the those of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez’s signature Foro Sol baseball stadium. They numbered 40,000, apparently, and that was easy to believe.

Yes, on that basis it was a good motor race. But… the three safety car interruptions for relatively minor incidents took ages to clear up. And the new cars… they are quick in a straight line and slide through the corners with plenty of tyre squeal. But at the start of season nine, Formula E remains an acquired taste, largely because of the lack of noise. As they streamed into the first turn each lap, the new Spark single-seaters whistled under braking like fireworks – just without the bang. It’s a strangely detached sensation watching them in the metal.

Brit Jake Dennis dominated the 58-minute race, stretched by those safety car interludes. He started second von the grid for Avalanche Andretti in his first weekend with Porsche power, but had the speed for pole position without the mistake he made in the final head-to-head duel. That handed the top spot to a surprised and delighted Lucas di Grassi, who only expected to “see if the car worked and was OK” on his first weekend driving for Mahindra.

But in the race the Brazilian had no answer for Dennis. After most of the first 10 laps had been neutralised, the Avalanche Andretti driver made a neat and decisive move at Turn 3 to take the lead and quickly built a gap. That was snuffed out by the third safety car, but once the race ran clean he ended up with a winning margin of nearly eight seconds, over Porsche works driver and the winner in Mexico last year Pascal Wehrlein, who came from sixth on the grid to finish a comfortable runner-up.

“This was a massive unknown for everyone, whereas in the Gen2 era you generally knew who had the quickest powertrain in the race,” said the delighted winner after making his bit of Gen3 history. “We had really strong pace, I got past Lucas and hit my targets, made sure there were no mistakes to bring it home. It was a relief to see the chequered flag and a big turnaround from Valencia [the pre-season tests held before Christmas] where I honestly thought we were one of the slowest.”

It hadn’t been underwhelming from where Dennis was sitting. “It was a great spectacle,” he insisted. “It showed you can overtake with these cars. Lucas defended really well but Pascal [Wehrlein] came from P6 to P2, and Mexico is not the easiest place to overtake. Overall I think it was a really good motor race: clean, close and we put on a really good show for the fans. It’s only going to get better. The cars will get quicker, and the teams will understand the systems more, which is the biggest thing on these cars.”