Cannot store an Async function call in a Task or Task(Of T) variable

Calling an Async function without Await and storing the resulting Task in a variable fails to compile. For example:

Var t1 As Task(Of DBAnswer) = client.GetRecordAsync()

fails with:

Cannot assign 'DBAnswer' to variable of type 'Task(Of DBAnswer)'.

Expected behaviour: calling an Async function yields its Task (or Task(Of T)), so it can be stored and awaited later — the documented "start now, await later" pattern. Await is what unwraps the result; the call itself must type as the task.